Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

[GoFastr]

Got a 21 ft Sun Tracker Party Barge and right now it sits on my boatlift. Would like to find an old conventional V hull trailer and convert it to carry the Toon. Not looking really to travel it other than in/out of the water and parking it alongside the house for maintenance.

Was wondering if there were any experience or ideas on how to go about it. Preferably would like to make one where it's supported underneath the deck allowing the tubes to free hang for sanding and bottom painting etc. Pictures would be fantastic.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

Rent a scissor trailer.(sp)

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

Converting to a pontoon trailer, especially to the type you are talking about, isn't cheap or easy. At a minimum, its a lot of metal, welding, painting, sanding, grinding. You will also need new tires, if you leave the larger boat tires on there you are going to have a very high pontoon prone to tipping over!

Yep, i second the statement above, rent, or buy a scissor trailer. They also allow you to drop the pontoon on dry land and pick it up.

 

[GoFastr]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

What is a scissor trailer and is it something you could dip into the water at the ramp to get the boat out? In my case it's saltwater.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

What is a scissor trailer and is it something you could dip into the water at the ramp to get the boat out? In my case it's saltwater.

Two style trailers typically used for pontoons.

One style has bunks that the toons sit on top of.
The scissor style has a frame that lifts up with a winch, and picks the boat up from the frame between the toons. With that style trailer, you could pull the boat out. Place some high density foam blocks on the ground under the toons, then lower the boat onto the blocks, and pull the trailer away. This website shows the two different styles; Ercoa Pontoon Boat Trailers, Drive-On Bunk, Swing Lift Scissor Trailer

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

Either trailer is fine with salt, neither will dissolve! Just hose it off afterwards.

Scissor trailers are great, but you do have to be careful towing them, especially at highway speeds. Your axle is only 4 feet wide or less, so you have lots of weight high up.

 

[GoFastr]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

I'm lucky enuff to share a private ramp between myself and my neighbor so I won't be taking it down the road, just need to pull it out and park it alongside the house and do some maintenance on the toon bottoms and areas I can't get to hangin on the lift.

Not sure if there's a place locally that would rent these. Not sure where to start.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Converting a trailer to carry a pontoon?

local craigslist ads... If you have any marinas around they might, or any repair places.